Florida Seeks to Ban All H1-B Visa Hires At State’s Public Universities
Florida state officials are weighing a proposal that would prohibit all public universities from hiring new foreign workers on H-1B visas—a move supporters say would prioritize American graduates, while critics argue it could limit universities’ ability to compete for top-tier talent.
Under the proposed measure, public colleges and universities across Florida would be barred from sponsoring or employing new H-1B visa holders. Workers already employed under the program would be permitted to remain. The restriction would apply only to state-run institutions and would not affect private universities or employers outside the public higher-education system, Politico reported last week.
The proposal builds on an order issued by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in October directing the state’s public universities to discontinue the use of H-1B visas. Fourteen of the 17 members of Florida’s Board of Governors—which oversees the state university system—are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate.
DeSantis has argued that the current system disadvantages American workers and raises national security concerns.
“Some professors are coming from China, ‘supposed Palestine’ and elsewhere,” DeSantis said, referring to regions that are not traditionally considered U.S. allies. “We need to make sure our citizens here in Florida are first in line for job opportunities.”
Federal data underscore how heavily Florida’s public universities rely on the visa program. During the most recent fiscal year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved 253 H-1B visas for the University of Florida. Florida State University and the University of South Florida each received roughly 110 approvals, while the University of Central Florida was granted 47. Smaller numbers were approved for other public institutions.
Universities have long defended the H-1B program as necessary to recruit faculty, physicians, and researchers—particularly in specialized fields such as healthcare, engineering, and advanced sciences.
The proposed policy changes would also mandate that each university board’s personnel program “must not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.”
Supporters of the measure argue it would open more positions for U.S. citizens—especially graduates of Florida’s own universities—at a time of record enrollment and intense competition for post-graduate employment. They also say it aligns with broader efforts to curb the displacement of American workers by foreign labor in publicly funded institutions.
Opponents, including some higher-education administrators and industry advocates, warn that limiting access to H-1B talent could undermine Florida universities’ ability to attract qualified faculty and researchers, particularly in STEM fields. They argue the restrictions could weaken academic competitiveness and reduce international research collaboration.
The proposal is now under review in the Florida Legislature, where lawmakers are debating whether to advance the plan and how it could impact the state’s higher-education system and broader economy.
The move fits into DeSantis’ broader hardline approach to immigration enforcement. Last August, the governor vowed to defy a federal judge’s order to shut down the controversial detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” a key hub for illegal alien deportations in Florida.
“This was not something that was unexpected. This is a judge that was not going to give us a fair shake. This was preordained. Very much an activist judge that is trying to do policy from the bench,” DeSantis said at the time. “This is not going to deter us. We are going to continue working on the deportations, advancing that mission.”
Those remarks followed an 82-page ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams—an Obama appointee—ordering the facility in Ochopee, Florida, to stop accepting new detainees and be dismantled within 60 days, citing environmental concerns under the National Environmental Policy Act. That ruling was later overturned on appeal.